Unknown or Legendary - Matanuska Thunderfuck

Matanuska Thunder Fuck refers to any good cannabis coming out of the Matanuska Valley in Alaska since the early 70s. If you research the history of Palmer, you will find that it was/is a government agriculture experimental station. The original families who moved here for this experiment had children in Palmer around the 40's & 50's that were influenced by the hippie movement and the influx of their kind to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley around the beginning of the 70's. With the knowledge those children gained, while working with their parents on their family farms growing up, and from the projects they were involved in at the experimental station as college students, and from a few new found hippy friends from the west coast of the US, they began flower-forcing by blacking out greenhouses during the summer. None made clones. They did remove males, and they knew how to prepare the cannabis for market. So with that, people in Alaska started to see some green bud as opposed to imported bud, and it was all coming out of the valley.

By the 80's, only a few of those people remained. Some were busted. Others moved on. Those that remained began taking clones and growing indoors. One of those men, Larry, met my father and taught him the techniques that some still use to this day here in the valley. Unfortunately, both Larry and my father are dead and the valley is full of greedy people, so the story of a strain named MTF just isn't true. Most people who say that they have smoked it give inconsistent descriptions for flavor and effect. Most of the cannabis in the valley is grown from seeds bought from mainstream seed banks/breeders.

Matanuska Thunder Fuck Myths:To start, I have more than 20 years of experience with cannabis, beginning with guidance from my father. I feel sure that there are few people who know as much about MTF as I do. My family has lived in the Matanuska Valley/Palmer since 1940, well before Alaska was even a state.

MYTHS:* There is/was a strain named MTF/Matanuska Thunder Fuck- Any PREMIUM cannabis from the valley is called MTF.* Cannabis finishes flowering outdoors in the valley- Unless cannabis is auto-flowering it will grow large because of the long, bright days during summer, but it will never reach maturity before the cold and rain kill it. Light deprivation is the way to go.* This so-called strain named MTF needs a frost before harvest to yield maximum resin- Most cannabis is severely damaged if it does survive a frost. NOT RECOMMENDED!* This so-called strain named MTF is native to Alaska- NO cannabis is native to Alaska, or even the Americas. Try the Asian continent.* There are only mainstream strains in Alaska- If you know someone who's been growing in the valley since cloning caught on in the early 80's, you could possibly come across some of the old school clones, but I'd say it's improbable. Most don't even know where the clones that they get originated from. Of people making seeds, few really understand the science behind it, and the seed stock really doesn't compare to anything available on the world market. Although the work of quite a few commercial breeders is nothing to write home about, the few who do possess the knowledge won't reveal themselves or their methods for fear of loosing decades of hard work. And yes, they do possess genetic stock outside the world seed market. They're still hoping things will change and one day they will step up.* Cannabis is now only allowed for registered patients in Alaska- You can legally posses up to 28.35 grams in the PRIVACY of your home. Growing up to 24 plants is a misdemeanor. Although, according to one attorney he personally keeps up to four ounces (113.4 grams). Privacy, meaning no one can see it from a window or doorway outside your house.* Law enforcement in the valley can get warrants based on odors or abnormally high electric bills- They must be able to show probable cause that you are selling/distributing, cultivating(cannabis), or that you possess more than is allowed for personal use.

I think the lesson to take away from this is, what is being done in places like Amsterdam, Spain, UK, California, and Canada can be done anywhere on this planet. It has been done on ships in international waters, a shopping mall in Florida, even Antarctica. So, wherever you're at, you can grow MTF quality cannabis. Just remember, the more you educate yourself on the subject, ie., lab work, experiment, and cultivate, the more likely you will grow true THUNDER FUCK!

Disclaimer: In no way is this to be construed to be an advocation to break the law. I am not a lawyer, and in no way should you consider this legal advice. This is my view and I encourage you to discover truth for yourself.

Addition (from a medical grower/researcher (Ph.D.)): A medical clone called "Matanuska Valley Thunder Fuck" (or MVTF) ended up in Oregon. It is said to be a cross between "golf bud" and the "original" Matanuska Thunderfuck, both created in Alaska. The flavor is a pungent orange-citrus and is unmistakable--the aroma, once burnt, will fill a room. The clone also went by the name "Tange" (short for Tangerine). It is a prolific producer of high quality flowers and is the earliest flowering outdoor plant I have ever grown.

It begins flowering by July 5th at 45 degrees N and finishes the first weeks of September. One of the single-best medical clones to grow outdoors--period. This particular clone is now available in several California dispensaries as well.

The Matanuska Valley is well known for its exceptional ability to grow vegetables. MTF is not so much a strain. It refers to virtually any marijuana grown in the Matanuska Valley. The Matanuska valley is a location that has an optimal growing season and extremely fertile soil. Consequently, seeds bought from the mainstream seed banks/breeders tend to grow to their optimal potential in the valley. Most old timers, like my old boss who lived there, grew and kept most of their yield for family and friends. The winter is long up here. I am always skeptical when I hear people talking about actually having some "MTF" in the lower 48.